Element Case Vapor Pro for iPhone 4

The Element Case Vapor Pro is the Lamborghini Reventon of iPhone 4 cases -- cold carbon-colored aluminum chassis over space-aged, antenna insulation. And this year is works as good as it looks; on my review unit I didn't drop a bar in over a week of constant testing. Not one, not ever. So while it may still look like a hypercar, it performs even better.

There have been other improvements to the limited edition as well. The bottom has been cut wider to allow for a greater range of dock connectors. An extra portly Monster Cable still might not fit but I had no problems with any recent car or A/V connector I threw at it.

The special edition comes in a box that includes the bumper, a carbon-fiber printed adhesive back protector, 2 extra screws (very welcome), a certificate of authenticity, and a newly re-designed key for screwing the case on and off. Now, instead of a simple bent bar you get a very nice keychain that twists open to reveal the tool. Since it takes a tool to put the Vapor Pro on or take it off, having it handy is paramount should you want to switch to a charge case, put it in a car or A/V mount, or just clean it.

But the Vapor Pro has never been about convenience any more than it's been about economics. Like the Reventon, it's purely about possession. If you want a Vapor Pro, you know it.

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Reader comments

Element Case Vapor Pro for iPhone 4

After the last experience I had with this company, their customer service and their horrible product I wouldnt order anything from them ever again. I have a 100 dollar metallic ring that turns my iPhone into a worthless brick. And customer service simply doesn't care.

I am in full agreement with ToeJ
Stay as far away as you can from this piece of crap company. Horrible cases that takes away all the bars and no data for sure. They do not care about customer complaints and they simply ignore them after they have your money.
STAY AWAY FROM ELEMENT CASE!

While the case didn't work for me, and the one I purchased did kill the reception, the company was very easy to work with regarding a return. In fact, I had lost one of the screws and was concerned, given all I'd heard about them, that I would have trouble doing the return, but had no trouble at all.

obviously if you send them hate mail loaded with a whiny rant, anyone would treat you like an ex-girlfriend.
considering the content within the majority of replies any time ElementCase is mentioned, it's pretty obvious to be the case.
I'm not defending their product by any means, but I'm unable to side with most of the more vocal previous owners because of their own evidence.

I asked for a refund. They said no. I was out if my 30 days. I asked if they would exchange it for one that works. They told me it should work fine. I asked again and they stopped responding. I seriously considered flossing their email server but figured that would just make it harder for the other customers.

This case is a "Ferrite Cage"! Looks cool, but I with the Vapor case you will loose at least 1 bar of signal.
Back to just using the Apple Bumper. Hope the Vapor Pro better at being able to make calls.

I used a similar case, the new Atomic Hybrid, and while I loved the look and enjoyed how I had absolutely ZERO loss of signal, I took it off today in favor of my old plastic case. I simply didn't feel the metal bumper style protected the phone, and it added to the size more :(

THEY ARE HORRIBLE! I lose 1-2 bars of service EVERYWHERE with the Vapor case on. And they want $150 for the new one??!?!?!?! Craziness. Although I wish I did come up with the idea and manufactured them, because they are killin it! Speaking of that, anyone want to buy my Vapor4 case? I media blasted it to give it a raw metal look.

This is to the write of the review...I purchased a Vapor Pro and I can't be any happier with it...why do you say it comes with a carbon fiber "PRINTED" back plate? It IS real carbon fiber with a double-back adhesive on it? How much more real carbon fiber can you get? It's very obvious the CF is not just graphics printed on some sticky film..hell, you can even see the fiberous strands and weave on both sides.

I bought one of their cases and the case with carbon fiber backing set me back over $100.
Cosmetically the case was gorgeous. Functionality was terrible. It had a terrible effect on reception. I would receive texts sometimes 8 hours after they were sent and it became virtually impossible to keep a signal in places where I previously didn't have a problem.
When I emailed their customer service to inform them of the problem and inquire about a refund they simply ignored me. Their case is now a $100 plus dust catcher in my closet. It was a very expensive lesson to learn. This company sucks as they do not stand behind their product and apparently don't care about their customers once they have fleeced them.